Apparatus for processing medical image and method of processing medical image by using the apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided are an apparatus for processing a medical image, and a method of processing a medical image by using the apparatus. The apparatus includes: an image obtainer that receives a first image obtained by photographing an object; and an image processor that calculates a scaling factor for adjusting a magnification of the first image based on statistic information corresponding to the object and generates a second image to be displayed by normalizing a size of the object by applying the calculated scaling factor to the first image.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/492,884 filed Sep. 22, 2014, which in turn claims the benefit ofKorean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0026811, filed on Mar. 6, 2014, inthe Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein in entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatusfor processing a medical image, and more particularly, to an apparatusand method of processing a medical image, which are used to display anobject after normalizing a size of the object.

2. Description of the Related Art

An apparatus for processing a medical image is an apparatus forobtaining an image of an internal structure of an object. The apparatusis a noninvasive examination apparatus that photographs and processesstructural details, internal tissues, and flow of fluids in a body to beshown to a user. The user, such as a doctor, may diagnose a physicalcondition and a disease of a patient by using a medical image outputfrom the apparatus. Examples of such an apparatus for capturing andprocessing a medical image include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)apparatus, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, an X-ray apparatus, andan ultrasonic apparatus, and the apparatus generates a medical image byprocessing photographed image data.

In order to determine an abnormality of an object by using a generalmedical imaging apparatus, a medical expert personally searches for areference view and measures measurement items of the object from thereference view. The medical expert may determine the abnormality of theobject by using measurement values, and at this time, the medical expertmay suitably expand an image of the object to prevent an error of themeasurement values.

According to a general method, a user needs to manually expand or reducean image to measure an object. In addition, in order to automatemeasurement of an object in a medical imaging apparatus, a measurementtarget needs to be detected, and thus detection algorithms need to bedeveloped according to measurement targets. However, even when adetection algorithm is used, an error is highly likely to be generatedduring detection in abnormal cases

Accordingly, an apparatus and method of processing a medical image,wherein an abnormality of an object is simply, easily, and intuitivelydetermined, need to be provided.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present invention include an apparatusand method of processing a medical image, which calculate a scalingfactor for adjusting a magnification of an image based on statisticinformation corresponding to an object, automatically normalize a sizeof the object, and display the object.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, anapparatus for processing a medical image, the apparatus includes: animage obtainer that receives a first image obtained by photographing anobject; and an image processor that calculates a scaling factor foradjusting a magnification of the first image based on statisticinformation corresponding to the object, and generates a second image tobe displayed by normalizing a size of the object by applying thecalculated scaling factor to the first image.

The scaling factor may differ depending on at least one of a type, aphotographing direction, and a photographing condition of an apparatusfor photographing the object.

The apparatus may further include a display unit that displays thesecond image obtained by normalizing the size of the object.

The statistic information may be determined based on at least one of anage, a photographed region, and a photographed item of the object.

The apparatus may further include a memory that stores the statisticinformation comprising an average value of sizes of the object beingdisplayed on the first image correspondingly to an average value ofactual object sizes.

The scaling factor may be calculated according to Formula 1:

$\begin{matrix}{S \times \frac{N}{M}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

wherein in Formula 1, S denotes an initial scaling factor of the firstimage, M denotes an average value of sizes of the object being displayedon the first image correspondingly to an average value of actual objectsizes, and N denotes a size of the object being displayed on the secondimage when the object is normal.

The medical image may be at least one of a computed tomography (CT)image, a magnetic resonance (MR) image, an X-ray image, and anultrasonic image.

The medical image may be an ultrasonic image, the object may be fetus,and the statistic information may be determined based on a gestationalage of the fetus.

The apparatus may further include a user input unit that receiveslocation information for moving an image center point, wherein the imageprocessor may move the image center point based on the input locationinformation and generate the second image by applying the calculatedscaling factor to a modified first image having the moved image centerpoint.

The image processor may detect location information for moving an imagecenter point based on a photographed region of the object, move theimage center point based on the detected location information, andgenerate the second image by applying the calculated scaling factor to amodified first image having the moved image center point.

The second image may correspond to the object and include informationindicating a normal object.

The number of at least one of a photographed region and a photographeditem of the object may be at least two, and the image processor maycalculate a plurality of scaling factors for each of the at least twophotographed regions or the at least two photographed items and generatea plurality of second images by applying the calculated plurality ofscaling factors to the first image.

The apparatus may further include a display unit that displays theplurality of second images on one screen.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a methodof processing a medical image, the method includes: obtaining a firstimage by photographing an object; calculating a scaling factor foradjusting a magnification of the first image based on statisticinformation corresponding to the object; and generating a second imageto be displayed by normalizing a size of the object by applying thecalculated scaling factor to the first image.

The scaling factor may differ depending on at least one of a type, aphotographing direction, and a photographing condition of an apparatusfor photographing the object.

The method may further include displaying the second image obtained bynormalizing the size of the object.

The statistic information may be determined based on at least one of anage, a photographed region, and a photographed item of the object.

The scaling factor may be calculated according to Formula 1:

$\begin{matrix}{S \times \frac{N}{M}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

wherein in Formula 1, S denotes an initial scaling factor of the firstimage, M denotes an average value of sizes of the object being displayedon the first image correspondingly to an average value of actual objectsizes, and N denotes a size of the object being displayed on the secondimage when the object is normal.

The medical image may be at least one of a computed tomography (CT)image, a magnetic resonance (MR) image, an X-ray image, and anultrasonic image.

The medical image may be an ultrasonic image, the object may be a fetus,and the statistic information may be determined based on a gestationalage of the fetus.

The statistic information may be determined based on a photographeditem, wherein the photographed item may include at least one of a headcircumference (HC), a biparietal diameter (BPD), a cistern magna (CM), afemur length (FL), an anterior-posterior trunk diameter (APTD), atransverse trunk diameter (TTD), an abdominal circumference (AC), acrown rump length (CRL), a posterior horn of the lateral ventricle (Vp),and nuchal translucency (NT).

The generating of the second image may include: receiving locationinformation for moving an image center point based on a user input;moving the image center point based on the received location informationand generating a modified first image having the moved image centerpoint; and generating the second image by applying the calculatedscaling factor to the modified first image.

The generating of the second image may include: detecting locationinformation for moving an image center point based on a photographedregion of the object; moving the image center point based on thedetected location information and generating a modified first imagehaving the moved image center point; and generating the second image byapplying the calculated scaling factor to the modified first image.

The second image may correspond to the object and include informationindicating a normal object.

The second image may include at least one of previous photographinginformation, a scaling factor, and an actual length of the object.

The number of at least one of a photographed region and a photographeditem of the object may be at least two, the calculating of the scalingfactor may include calculating a plurality of scaling factors for eachof the at least two photographed regions or the at least twophotographed items, and the generating of the second image may includegenerating a plurality of second images by applying the calculatedplurality of scaling factors to the first image.

The method may further include displaying the plurality of second imageson one screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for processing a medicalimage, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus for processing a medicalimage, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows images of a normalized object being displayed according toa method of processing a medical image, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 shows images of a normalized object being displayed according toa method of processing a medical image, according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of processing a medical image,according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is diagrams for describing displaying an object that isnormalized by using different probes, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is diagrams for describing generating an image by moving a centerpoint, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage, when the number of at least one of a photographed region and aphotographed item of an object is at least two, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are images of display screens, according to embodimentsof the present invention;

FIG. 10 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage applied to an X-ray apparatus, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage applied to a computed tomography (CT) apparatus, according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage applied to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Advantages and features of one or more embodiments of the presentinvention and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood morereadily by reference to the following detailed description of theembodiments and the accompanying drawings. In this regard, the presentembodiments may have different forms and should not be construed asbeing limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete and will fully convey the concept of the present embodiments toone of ordinary skill in the art, and the present invention will only bedefined by the appended claims. Like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, the terms used in the specification will now be brieflydefined, and the embodiments will now be described in detail.

All terms including descriptive or technical terms which are used hereinshould be construed as having meanings that are obvious to one ofordinary skill in the art. However, the terms may have differentmeanings according to an intention of one of ordinary skill in the art,precedent cases, or the appearance of new technologies. Also, some termsmay be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, themeaning of the selected terms will be described in detail in thedetailed description of the invention. Thus, the terms used herein haveto be defined based on the meaning of the terms together with thedescription throughout the specification.

When a part “includes” or “comprises” an element, unless there is aparticular description contrary thereto, the part can further includeother elements, not excluding the other elements. Also, the term ‘unit’in the embodiments of the present invention means a software componentor hardware components such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) oran application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and performs aspecific function. However, the term ‘unit’ is not limited to softwareor hardware. The ‘unit’ may be formed so as to be in an addressablestorage medium, or may be formed so as to operate one or moreprocessors. Thus, for example, the term ‘unit’ may refer to componentssuch as software components, object-oriented software components, classcomponents, and task components, and may include processes, functions,attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers,firmware, micro codes, circuits, data, a database, data structures,tables, arrays, or variables. A function provided by the components and‘units’ may be associated with a smaller number of components and‘units’, or may be divided into additional components and ‘units’.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In this regard, thepresent embodiments may have different forms and should not be construedas being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. In the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail since they would obscure the embodiments with unnecessary detail.

Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list ofelements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify theindividual elements of the list.

Throughout the specification, an “image” may mean multi-dimensional dataformed of discrete image elements (e.g., pixels in a two-dimensional(2D) image and voxels in a three-dimensional (3D) image).

Throughout the specification, a “medical image” may mean at least one ofa computed tomography (CT) image, a magnetic resonance (MR) image, anX-ray image, and an ultrasonic image, but is not limited thereto.

Throughout the specification, an “object” may include a human, ananimal, or a part of a human or animal. For example, the object mayinclude organs such as the liver, the heart, the womb, the brain, abreast, the abdomen, or the like, or a blood vessel. Also, the objectmay include a phantom. The phantom means a material having a volume thatis very close to a density and effective atomic number of an organism,and may include a sphere phantom having a characteristic similar to aphysical body.

Throughout the specification, a “user” may be, but is not limited to, amedical expert including a doctor, a nurse, a medical laboratorytechnologist, a medial image expert, and a technician who repairs amedical apparatus.

Throughout the specification, “statistic information” may include arepresentative value of a measurement target of a group corresponding toan object. Examples of the representative value include an average valueand a median value, but are not limited thereto. Examples of statisticinformation may include an average value of actual object sizes based onan actual measurement value of an object and an average value of sizesof an object being displayed on an initial image according to theaverage value of the actual object sizes, but are not limited thereto.

Throughout the specification, a “scaling factor” may be a ratio of alength being displayed on an image with respect to an actual length. Forexample, when a scaling factor is 1, an object is displayed on an imagein its actual size, when a scaling factor is lower than 1, an object isdisplayed on an image in a size smaller than an actual size, and when ascaling factor is higher than 1, an object is displayed on an image in asize larger than an actual size.

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus 100 for processing a medicalimage, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes an image obtainer 110 and an image processor 120.

The image obtainer 110 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention receives a first image obtained by photographing an object.Here, the first image is a medical image, and may be at least one of aCT image, an MR image, an X-ray image, and an ultrasonic image asdescribed above.

The image processor 120 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention calculates a scaling factor for adjusting a magnification ofthe first image based on statistic information corresponding to theobject, and generates a second image to be displayed by normalizing asize of the object by applying the calculated scaling factor to thefirst image. In other words, the first image is a medical image before ascaling factor is applied, and the second image is a medical image aftera scaling factor is applied.

In detail, the scaling factor may differ depending on at least one of atype, a photographing direction, and a photographing condition of anapparatus for photographing the object.

For example, let's assume that the object is a fetus.

When a crown rump length (CRL) of a fetus photographed by using the same3-dimensionall (3D) probe is examined, a CRL displayed on a medicalimage obtained by photographing a side of the fetus according to a sidephotographing condition, and a CRL displayed on a medical image obtainedby photographing a front of the fetus according to a front photographingcondition may be different from each other.

Alternatively, when a fetus is photographed by using different types ofprobes under the same front photographing condition, a size of thephotographed fetus being displayed may differ due to a resolutiondifference, etc. depending on the different types of probes. Forexample, the size of the photographed fetus being displayed may differwhen the fetus is photographed by using an endocavitary probe and whenthe fetus is photographed by using a convex probe.

When the size of the object being displayed differs depending on atleast one of the type, the photographing direction, and thephotographing condition of the apparatus for photographing the object,it is difficult to intuitively determine an abnormality of the objectbased on only the size of the object displayed on a display, and theabnormality of the object may be determined based on a measurement valuevia a measuring operation.

As described above, the image processor 120 controls an image capturedin various sizes according to at least one of a type, a photographingdirection, and a photographing condition of a photographing apparatus tobe displayed after normalizing a size of an object by using a scalingfactor.

Also, the statistic information may be determined based on at least oneof an age, a photographed region, and a photographed item of the object.Here, the photographed item may differ depending on an object, and maybe a measurement item required to diagnose a disease or normality of theobject.

For example, when the object is a heart, a value for determining adisease in the heart may be a diameter of aorta (AO). In this case, aphotographed item may be an ‘aorta diameter’. In the above example,statistic information may be an average value of aorta diameters whendiameters of aortas are measured according to age groups.

In another example, when the object is a fetus, biometrics fordetermining a normal growth of the fetus may be a measurement item. Inthis case, examples of a photographed item include a CRL, a biparietaldiameter (BPD), a head circumference (HC), an abdominal circumference(AC), a femur length (FL), and a humerus length (HL). In the aboveexample, statistic information may include an average measurement valueof certain biometrics according to a gestational age (GA) of the fetus.According to an embodiment of the present invention, the scaling factormay be calculated according to Formula 1:

$\begin{matrix}{S \times \frac{N}{M}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

In Formula 1, S denotes an initial scaling factor of a first image. Mdenotes an average value of sizes of an object being displayed on thefirst image correspondingly to an average value of actual object sizes,and may be stored as statistic information in the apparatus 100. Indetail, when an object having a size corresponding to an average valueis displayed on a screen that displays a first image, the size of theobject being displayed on the screen may be M. N denotes a size of anobject displayed on a second image when the object is normal, and may bea pre-set value or set by a user input. For example, N may denote a sizeof an object displayed on a screen when the object is normal and thenormal object having an average size is displayed on the screen thatdisplays a second image. Alternatively, N may be a certain value set bya user or the like.

For example, M that denotes the average value of the sizes of the objectbeing displayed on the first image correspondingly to the average valueof the actual object sizes may be stored in the apparatus 100 asstatistic information.

In another example, the average value of the actual object sizes may bestored in the apparatus 100 as statistic information. In this case, Mmay be calculated by multiplying the initial scaling factor of the firstimage by the average value of the actual object sizes.

The image processor 120 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may generate a second image by moving an image center pointand then applying the scaling factor to the first image.

For example, the image processor 120 may move the image center pointbased on location information determined based on a user input. Theimage processor 120 may generate the second image by applying thecalculated scaling factor to a modified first image having the movedimage center point.

In another example, the image processor 120 may detect the locationinformation for moving the image center point based on a photographedregion of the object, and move the image center point based on thedetected location information. The image processor 120 may generate thesecond image by applying the calculated scaling factor to the modifiedfirst image having the moved image center point.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the object isdisplayed after the size of the object is automatically normalized, anoperation of manually expanding or reducing a medical image on which theobject is displayed is not required.

Also, a general automatic zooming technology requires a separatedetection algorithm for detecting an object according to objects, butaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, an automaticzooming technology may be realized without having to use a separatealgorithm.

Also, since the object is displayed after the size of the object isnormalized, an abnormality of the object may be intuitively determined.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus 100 for processing a medicalimage, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay include a memory 210, a user input unit 220, the image obtainer 110,the image processor 120, and a display unit 230. However, not allcomponents illustrated in FIG. 2 are essential components. The apparatus100 may be realized by more or less components than the illustratedcomponents. The image obtainer 110 and the image processor 120 of FIG. 2respectively correspond to the image obtainer 110 and the imageprocessor 120 of FIG. 1, and thus repeated descriptions thereof are notprovided.

The memory 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention maystore statistic information about an object. For example, the memory 210may store statistic information including an average value of sizes ofthe object displayed on a first image correspondingly to an averagevalue of actual object sizes.

In another example, the memory 210 may store statistic informationincluding the average value of the actual object sizes. The averagevalue of the sizes of the object displayed on the first imagecorrespondingly to the average value of the actual object sizes may becalculated by multiplying an initial scaling factor of the first imageto the average value of the actual object sizes stored as statisticinformation.

The user input unit 220 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may receive information about at least one of the object, aphotographed region, and a photographed item.

Also, the user input unit 220 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may receive location information for moving an image centerpoint. The image center point is a center point of a display view forviewing the object. A user may move the image center point through theuser input unit 220 such that an image is displayed in a direction anitem to be measured is satisfactorily shown. For example, a CRL of afetus may be accurately measured on a mid-sagittal plane. Thus, when theCRL of the fetus is to be measured and a currently obtained image iscaptured by photographing a front of the fetus, the user may move theimage center point to a center of a mid-sagittal plane to obtain amedical image showing the mid-sagittal plane of the fetus.

The user input unit 220 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may receive a value for setting the size of the objectdisplayed on a second image when the object is normal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the object isa fetus, the user input unit 220 may receive information about a GA ofthe fetus.

Also, when the object is a fetus, the user input unit 220 may receive,as a photographed item, at least one of an HC, a BPD, a cistern magna(CM), an FL, an anterior-posterior trunk diameter (APTD), a transversetrunk diameter (TTD), an AC, a CRL, a posterior horn of the lateralventricle (Vp), and nuchal translucency (NT).

A scaling factor may be obtained by extracting statistic informationcorresponding to the object and an age from the memory 210, based on auser input.

The display unit 230 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay display a second image including the object having the normalizedsize.

The display unit 230 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay further display information corresponding to an object andindicating that the object is normal.

The display unit 230 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay display a plurality of second images on one screen, the plurality ofsecond images generated when the number of at least one of aphotographed region and a photographed item of the object is at leasttwo.

FIG. 3 shows images of a normalized object being displayed according toa method of processing a medical image, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus forprocessing a medical image may be an ultrasonic apparatus, an object maybe a fetus, and a photographed item may be an FL.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user may inputthe “FL” as the photographed item. Also, the user may input a GA of thefetus, for example, 22 weeks, as additional information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus maystore an average value of sizes of the object displayed on a first imagecorrespondingly to an average value of actual object sizes, as statisticinformation about the object. For example, when an average value of FLsof a 22 week fetus is 4 cm and an initial scaling factor of a firstimage is 2, 8 cm that is an average value of FLs of the 22 week fetusdisplayed on the first image may be pre-stored in the ultrasonicapparatus, as statistic information.

A size of the object displayed on a second image when the object isnormal may be pre-set or set via a user input. For example, an FL may bepre-set to be displayed in 16 cm on a second image when a fetus isnormal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a scaling factormay be calculated according to Formula 1:

$\begin{matrix}{{S \times \frac{N}{M}} = {{2 \times \frac{16}{8}} = 4}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

The apparatus 100 may generate the second image for displaying theobject after normalizing the size of the object by applying the scalingfactor.

FIG. 3 (a) shows a second image obtained as the apparatus 100photographs a fetus having a normal FL and applies a scaling factorcalculated according to Formula 1 to the photographed fetus. In otherwords, a second image obtained by zooming a first image two times may bedisplayed as a scaling factor of 4 is applied. As a result, the FL ofthe fetus is about 16 cm.

FIG. 3 (b) shows a second image obtained as the apparatus 100photographs a fetus having an FL that is shorter than a normal FL, andapplies a scaling factor calculated according to Formula 1 to thephotographed fetus. In other words, the fetus is displayed in the FLthat is shorter than 16 cm, as the scaling factor of 4 is applied. Amedical expert may look at the second image and intuitively determine anabnormality of the fetus.

FIG. 3 (c) shows a second image obtained as the apparatus 100photographs a fetus having an FL that is longer than a normal FL, andapplies a scaling factor calculated according to Formula 1 to thephotographed fetus. In other words, the fetus is displayed in the FLthat is longer than 16 cm, as the scaling factor of 4 is applied. Amedical expert may look at the second image and intuitively determine anabnormality of the fetus.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus100 may store an average value of actual object sizes as statisticinformation about an object. For example, 4 cm that is an average valueof FLs of a 22 week fetus may be pre-stored in the ultrasonic apparatusas statistic information. Also, an initial scaling factor of a firstimage may be stored as 2. In this case, an average value of sizes of theobject displayed on the first image correspondingly to the average valueof the actual object sizes may be calculated by multiplying the initialscaling factor of the first image by the average value of the actualobject sizes.

A size of the object displayed on a second image when the object isnormal may be pre-set or set via a user input. For example, when a fetusis normal, an FL may be pre-set to be displayed in 16 cm on a secondimage. A scaling factor may be calculated by dividing the size of theobject displayed on the second image when the object is normal by theaverage value of the actual object sizes.

FIG. 4 shows images of a normalized object being displayed according toa method of processing a medical image, according to another embodimentof the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100may be an ultrasonic apparatus, an object may be a fetus, and aphotographed item may be an FL. Statistic information may be determinedbased on a GA and the photographed item of the fetus.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay receive the photographed item and the GA of the fetus. For example,the apparatus 100 may receive “FL” as the photographed item.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100may store an average value of sizes of the object as statisticinformation about the object. For example, when an initial scalingfactor of a first image is stored as 2 and an average value of FLs of a24 week fetus is stored as 5 cm, an average value of FLs of the 24 weekfetus displayed on the first image may be calculated to be 10 cm. Also,when an average value of FLs of a 28 week fetus is stored as 6 cm, anaverage value of FLs of the 28 week fetus displayed on the first imagemay be calculated to be 12 cm. Also, when an average value of FLs of a33 week fetus is stored as 9 cm, an average value of FLs of the 33 weekfetus displayed on the first image may be calculated to be 18 cm.

A size of the object displayed on the second image when the object isnormal may be pre-set or set via a user input. For example, an FL of anormal fetus may be pre-set to be displayed on a second image, in 18 cm.

FIG. 4 (a) shows a second image obtained as the apparatus 100photographs a 24 week fetus having a normal FL, and applies a scalingfactor calculated according to Formula 1 to the photographed 24 weekfetus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the scaling factormay be calculated according to Formula 1:

$\begin{matrix}{{S \times \frac{N}{M}} = {{2 \times \frac{18}{10}} = 3.6}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

The apparatus 100 may generate the second image to be displayed bynormalizing the size of the object by applying the scaling factor.Accordingly, a normal FL of a fetus may be displayed on the second imagein about 18 cm.

FIG. 4 (b) shows a second image obtained as the apparatus 100photographs a 28 week fetus having a normal FL, and applies a scalingfactor calculated according to Formula 1 to the photographed 28 weekfetus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the scaling factormay be calculated according to Formula 1:

$\begin{matrix}{{S \times \frac{N}{M}} = {{2 \times \frac{18}{12}} = 3}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

The apparatus 100 may generate the second image to be displayed bynormalizing the size of the object by applying the scaling factor.Accordingly, a normal FL of a fetus may be displayed on the second imagein about 18 cm.

FIG. 4 (c) shows a second image obtained as the apparatus 100photographs a 33 week fetus having a normal FL, and applies a scalingfactor calculated according to Formula 1 to the photographed 33 weekfetus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the scaling factormay be calculated according to Formula 1:

$\begin{matrix}{{S \times \frac{N}{M}} = {{2 \times \frac{18}{18}} = 2}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

The apparatus 100 may generate the second image to be displayed bynormalizing the size of the object by applying the scaling factor.Accordingly, a normal FL of a fetus may be displayed on the second imagein about 18 cm.

As a result, an FL of a normal fetus may be displayed in the samelength, regardless of a GA.

Accordingly, a user may intuitively determine an abnormality of a fetusby looking at a second image displaying the fetus after normalizing asize of the fetus regardless of a GA.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of processing a medical image,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In operation S510, the apparatus 100 obtains a first image byphotographing an object.

In operation S520, the apparatus 100 calculates a scaling factor foradjusting a magnification of the first image based on statisticinformation corresponding to the object.

The statistic information according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be determined based on at least one of an age, aphotographed region, and a photographed item of the object.

Also, the scaling factor may differ depending on at least one of a type,a photographing direction, and a photographing condition of an apparatusfor photographing the object.

In operation S530, the apparatus 100 generates a second image to bedisplayed by normalizing a size of the object by applying the calculatedscaling factor to the first image.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay display the second image including the object having the normalizedsize.

FIG. 6 is diagrams for describing displaying an object that isnormalized by using different probes, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 6 (a), an image of an object 620 scanned by using anendocavitary probe 610 is displayed.

In FIG. 6 (b), an image of an object 650 scanned by using a convex probe640 is displayed.

Images scanned by using different probes, i.e., the image of the object620 scanned by using the endocavitary probe 610 and the image of theobject 650 scanned by using the convex probe 640, may have differentresolutions.

However, the apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention calculates a scaling factor for adjusting a magnification ofan image based on statistic information corresponding to an objectregardless of a type of a probe, and generates a second image byapplying the calculated scaling factor to the image. Accordingly, evenwhen objects 630 and 660 are photographed by using different types ofprobes, the objects 630 and 660 may be displayed on a second image, inthe same size.

FIG. 7 is diagrams for describing generating an image by moving a centerpoint, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7 (a), the apparatus 100 may receive a GA and aphotographed item of a fetus based on a user input. For example, theapparatus 100 may receive information that a Vp of a 22 week fetus is tobe captured based on a user input.

Referring to FIG. 7 (b), the apparatus 100 may obtain a first image byphotographing an object. The first image may be an image to which aninitial scaling factor of the apparatus 100 is applied.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay receive location information for moving an image center point basedon a user input. For example, the apparatus 100 may set a new imagecenter point based on a touch input on a touch screen.

The apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the presentinvention may detect location information for moving an image centerpoint based on a photographed region of the object. For example, theapparatus 100 may detect an image center point for locating aphotographed item at a center of an image by using a detectionalgorithm, based on a user input on the photographed item.

Referring to FIG. 7 (c), the apparatus 100 may move the image centerpoint and generate a modified first image having the moved image centerpoint.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay move the image center point based on the received locationinformation. The apparatus 100 may generate the modified first imagehaving the moved image center point.

The apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the presentinvention may move the image center point based on the detected locationinformation. The apparatus 100 may generate the modified first imagehaving the moved image center point.

Referring to FIG. 7 (d), the apparatus 100 may generate a second imageby applying a scaling factor calculated based on statistic informationabout the object to the modified first image. The apparatus 100 maygenerate and display the second image in which the photographed item ofthe object is at a center and the object has the normalized size.

Referring to FIG. 7 (e), the apparatus 100 may display or measure thephotographed item by using a caliper on the second image.

FIG. 8 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage, when the number of at least one of a photographed region and aphotographed item of an object is at least two, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 8 (a) and (b), the apparatus 100 may be an ultrasonicapparatus, an object may be a fetus, and photographed items may be Vp,Nt, and FL.

Referring to FIG. 8 (c), the apparatus 100 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may calculate a plurality of scaling factors foreach of a plurality of photographed regions or photographed items. Forexample, the apparatus 100 may calculate a scaling factor for each Vp,for each Nt, and for each FL according to a first image obtained byphotographing the fetus.

The apparatus 100 may generate a plurality of second images by applyingthe calculated plurality of scaling factors to the first image. Forexample, the apparatus 100 may sequentially display the plurality ofsecond images. In another example, the apparatus 100 may display one ofthe plurality of second images based on a user's selection. In anotherexample, the apparatus 100 may display the plurality of second images onone screen.

Referring to FIG. 8 (d), the apparatus 100 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may display or measure a photographed item byusing a caliper on the second image.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are images of display screens, according to embodimentsof the present invention.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay display a second image by including at least one of informationindicating a normal object and corresponding to previous photographinginformation of an object, a scaling factor, an actual length, and anobject.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the apparatus 100 may display, on a second image,an object 910 and a size 920 of an object displayed on the second imagewhen the object is normal. A user may compare the object 910 that isactually photographed, and the size 920 of the object displayed on thesecond image when the object is normal so as to further easily andintuitively determine an abnormality of the object 910.

Alternatively, the apparatus 100 may display the second image afterincluding an average value of actual object sizes and a measured valueof the object 910 that is actually photographed to the second image.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the apparatus 100 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may display a plurality of second images on onescreen.

As described above with reference to FIG. 8, the apparatus 100 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may calculate a plurality ofscaling factors for each of a plurality of photographed regions orphotographed items. The apparatus 100 may generate the plurality ofsecond images by applying the calculated plurality of scaling factors toa first image.

Referring back to FIG. 9B, the apparatus 100 according to an embodimentof the present invention may generate a plurality of second images forVp, NT, and FL, i.e., photographed items, of a first image obtained byphotographing a fetus, and display the plurality of second images on onescreen.

FIG. 10 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage applied to an X-ray apparatus, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

For example, the apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be the X-ray apparatus, an object may be a person, and aphotographed region may be a pelvis. Also, the apparatus 100 may receivean age, a gender, and the photographed region of the object based on auser input.

Referring to FIG. 10 (a), the X-ray apparatus may obtain a first imageby photographing the pelvis that is the photographed region of theobject.

Referring to FIG. 10 (b), the X-ray apparatus may calculate a scalingfactor based on statistic information corresponding to the object. Thestatistic information may include an average of actual pelvis sizes ofpeople of the same age and same gender as the object.

For example, the average value of the actual pelvis sizes of people ofthe same age and same gender as the object may be 10 cm, and when aninitial scaling factor of a first image is 1, an average value of pelvissizes of the object displayed on the first image correspondingly to theaverage value of the actual pelvis sizes may be 10 cm. When a pelvissize of the object displayed on a second image is set to be 20 cm whenthe object is normal, a scaling factor may be calculated to be 2.

The X-ray apparatus may generate the second image by applying thecalculated scaling factor to the first image. In other words, the X-rayapparatus may generate a second image by expanding the first image twiceand normalizing the size of the object.

Referring to FIG. 10 (c), the X-ray apparatus may display a second imageby including an actual measurement value 1010 and a size 1020 of anobject displayed on the second image when the object is normal to thesecond image.

FIG. 11 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage applied to a CT apparatus, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

For example, the apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be the CT apparatus, an object may be a person, and aphotographing region may be a spine. Also, the apparatus 100 may receivean age, a gender, and the photographed region of the object based on auser input.

The CT apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention maydiagnose cervical spinal canal stenosis by photographing a spine canalof a cervical vertebral portion. The cervical spinal canal stenosis is aphenomenon in which various symptoms are generated in a region of nervesthat are stimulated as a spine canal around the neck narrows.

Referring to FIG. 11 (a), the CT apparatus may obtain a first image byphotographing a spine canal in a cervical vertebral portion that is aphotographed region of the object.

Referring to FIG. 11 (b), the CT apparatus may calculate a scalingfactor based on statistic information corresponding to the object. Thestatistic information may include an average value of cervical spinalcanal thicknesses of people of the same age and same gender as theobject.

For example, an average value of cross-sectional thicknesses of cervicalspinal canals of people of the same age and same gender as the objectmay be 2 cm, and when an initial scaling factor of a first image is 2,an average value of sizes of the object displayed on the first imagecorrespondingly to the average value of the cross-sectional thicknessesmay be 4 cm. When a cross-sectional thickness of a cervical spinal canalof the object displayed on a second image when the object is normal isset to be 10 cm, a scaling factor may be calculated to be 5.

The CT apparatus may generate the second image by applying thecalculated scaling factor to the first image. In other words, the CTapparatus may generate the second image by expanding the first image 2.5times and normalizing the size of the object.

Referring to FIG. 11 (c), the CT apparatus may display the second imageby including an actual measurement value 1110 and a size 1120 of theobject displayed on the second image when the object is normal, to thesecond image.

FIG. 12 is diagrams for describing a method of processing a medicalimage applied to an MRI apparatus, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

For example, the apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be the MRI apparatus, an object may be a person, and aphotographed region may be a lateral brain. Also, the apparatus 100 mayreceive an age, a gender, and a photographed region of the object basedon a user input. The MRI apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may diagnose an abnormality of a hypothalamus functionby photographing the lateral brain.

Referring to FIG. 12 (a), the MRI apparatus may obtain a first image byphotographing the lateral brain that is the photographed region of theobject.

Referring to FIG. 12 (b), the MRI apparatus may calculate a scalingfactor based on statistic information corresponding to the object.

Referring to FIG. 12 (c), the MRI apparatus may display a second imagetogether with a caliper.

As described above, according to the one or more of the aboveembodiments of the present invention, an object may be displayed afternormalizing a size of the object.

By using a medical image in which the size of the object is normalized,a user may intuitively determine an abnormality of the object.

An embodiment of the present invention may also be realized in a form ofa computer-readable recording medium, such as a program module executedby a computer. A computer-readable recording medium may be an arbitraryavailable medium accessible by a computer, and examples thereof includeall volatile and non-volatile media and separable and non-separablemedia. Further, examples of the computer-readable recording medium mayinclude a computer storage medium and a communication medium. Examplesof the computer storage medium include all volatile and non-volatilemedia and separable and non-separable media, which have been implementedby an arbitrary method or technology, for storing information such ascomputer-readable commands, data structures, program modules, and otherdata. The communication medium typically includes a computer-readablecommand, a data structure, a program module, other data of a modulateddata signal, or another transmission mechanism, and an example thereofincludes an arbitrary information transmission medium.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims. Hence, itwill be understood that the embodiments described above are not limitingthe scope of the invention. For example, each component described in asingle type may be executed in a distributed manner, and componentsdescribed distributed may also be executed in an integrated form.

The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims which willbe described in the following rather than the detailed description ofthe invention, and it should be understood that the claims and allmodifications or modified forms drawn from the concept of the claims areincluded in the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for processing a medical image, theapparatus comprising: an image obtainer that receives a first imageincluding an object; a memory that stores a representative value ofobject size, the representative value being determined based on at leastone of an age including gestational age, a photographed region, and anitem of the object; an image processor that calculates a scaling factorbased on the representative value and a size of the object to bedisplayed when the size of the object is the representative value, andgenerates a second image having the calculated scaling factor byadjusting a magnification of the first image; and a display thatdisplays the second image.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thescaling factor differs depending on at least one of a type, aphotographing direction, and a photographing condition of an apparatusfor photographing the object.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein therepresentative value comprises an average value of sizes of the objectbeing displayed on the first image correspondingly to an average valueof actual object sizes.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scalingfactor is calculated according to Formula 1: $\begin{matrix}{S \times \frac{N}{M}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$ wherein in Formula 1, S denotes an initial scaling factorof the first image, M denotes an average value of sizes of the objectbeing displayed on the first image correspondingly to an average valueof actual object sizes, and N denotes a size of the object beingdisplayed on the second image when the object is normal.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the medical image is at least one of acomputed tomography (CT) image, a magnetic resonance (MR) image, anX-ray image, and an ultrasonic image.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the medical image is an ultrasonic image, the object is fetus,and the representative value is determined based on a gestational age ofthe fetus.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user inputunit that receives location information for moving an image centerpoint, wherein the image processor moves the image center point based onthe input location information and generates the second image having thecalculated scaling factor by adjusting a magnification of a modifiedfirst image having the moved image center point.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the image processor detects location information formoving an image center point based on a photographed region of theobject, moves the image center point based on the detected locationinformation, and generates the second image having the calculatedscaling factor by adjusting a magnification of a modified first imagehaving the moved image center point.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the second image corresponds to the object and comprisesinformation indicating a normal object.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the number of at least one of the photographed region and theitem of the object is at least two, and the image processor calculates aplurality of scaling factors for each of the at least two photographedregions or the at least two items and generates a plurality of secondimages having the calculated plurality of scaling factors by adjusting amagnification of the first image.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe display unit displays the plurality of second images on one screen.12. A method of processing a medical image, the method comprising:storing a representative value of object size, the representative valuebeing determined based on at least one of an age including gestationalage, a photographed region, and an item of an object; obtaining a firstimage including the object; calculating a scaling factor based on therepresentative value and a size of the object to be displayed when thesize of the object is the representative value; generating a secondimage having the calculated scaling factor by adjusting a magnificationof the first image; and displaying the second image.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the scaling factor differs depending on at least oneof a type, a photographing direction, and a photographing condition ofan apparatus for photographing the object.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the scaling factor is calculated according to Formula 1:$\begin{matrix}{S \times \frac{N}{M}} & {\text{<}{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1\text{>}}\end{matrix}$ wherein in Formula 1, S denotes an initial scaling factorof the first image, M denotes an average value of sizes of the objectbeing displayed on the first image correspondingly to an average valueof actual object sizes, and N denotes a size of the object beingdisplayed on the second image when the object is normal.
 15. The methodof claim 12, wherein the medical image is at least one of a computedtomography (CT) image, a magnetic resonance (MR) image, an X-ray image,and an ultrasonic image.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the medicalimage is an ultrasonic image, the object is a fetus, and therepresentative value is determined based on a gestational age of thefetus.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the item of the objectcomprises at least one of a head circumference (HC), a biparietaldiameter (BPD), a cistern magna (CM), a femur length (FL), ananterior-posterior trunk diameter (APTD), a transverse trunk diameter(TTD), an abdominal circumference (AC), a crown rump length (CRL), aposterior horn of the lateral ventricle (Vp), and nuchal translucency(NT).
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating of the secondimage comprises: receiving location information for moving an imagecenter point based on a user input; moving the image center point basedon the received location information and generating a modified firstimage having the moved image center point; and generating the secondimage having the calculated scaling factor by adjusting a magnificationof the modified first image.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein thegenerating of the second image comprises: detecting location informationfor moving an image center point based on a photographed region of theobject; moving the image center point based on the detected locationinformation and generating a modified first image having the moved imagecenter point; and generating the second image having the calculatedscaling factor by adjusting a magnification of the modified first image.20. The method of claim 12, wherein the second image corresponds to theobject and comprises information indicating a normal object.